6 Fire Rescue Divers Killed in the Line of Duty During Water Rescue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD 6 Fire Rescue Divers Killed In The Line Of Duty During Water Rescue https://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/6-fire-rescue-divers-killed-in-the-line-of-duty-during-water-rescue/ October 4, 2018 We regret to pass on that 6 fire and rescue department divers in Malaysia died in the Line of Duty. This occurred during a rescue operation for a teenager who is feared to have drowned after falling into a mining pond on Wednesday (Oct 3). The divers were caught in a strong “whirlpool” during the operation in Puchong, a town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. It was drizzling when the divers went into the pond at 2115 hours to rescue the 17- year-old boy. The team had followed standard operating procedures in donning complete diving equipment and were tied to a single rope. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 1 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD Suddenly a violent current/whirlpool occurred in the water, causing all the fire rescue divers to spin in the water while all their equipment came off. The divers struggled in the water for about 30 minutes while other fire rescue members tried to rescue them. All of them were unconscious when they were eventually pulled out of the water. All life saving measures were attempted, but unsuccessful. Here’s What Happened to 6 Firemen Who Drowned While Finding Missing Teen in Puchong https://www.worldofbuzz.com/heres-what-happened-to-6-firemen-who-drowned-while-finding- missing-teen-in-puchong/ October 4, 2018 By Ling Kwan On the night of 3 October, the nation was shocked by news of six firemen who drowned while carrying out a search and rescue operation. This heartbreaking incident took place at a mining pond in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong. According to NST and Harian Metro, the operation was to search for a 17-year-old teenager, Mohd Ilham Fahmy who was believed to have slipped and fallen into the mining pond in the evening. It was understood that the teen had gone there with his two friends for fishing activities. The local residents quickly alerted the Fire and Rescue Department when they learnt about the mishap. Six firemen from the Water Rescue Unit then dived into the water to look for the victim shortly after. Five minutes into the operation, the current suddenly surged and all the divers were entangled by their safety ropes, which were believed to have caused their diving equipment to come off. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 2 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD Source: Facebook Sepang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali said a few firemen on standby saw the divers struggling in the water and tried to pull them out but the current was just too strong. The first diver was only pulled out after 30 minutes. “When they were brought out (of the water), all six of them were unconscious. The paramedics at the scene performed CPR for 30 minutes but none of the victims gave any response and they were pronounced dead later,” Abdul Aziz said. The fallen firemen are: Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34 Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32 Mazlan Omarbaki, 25 Yahya Ali, 24 Adnan Othman, 33 Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25 The bodies have been sent to Serdang Hospital for post-mortem. This news also shocked the missing teenager’s father, Mohd Azzam Naim who didn’t expect the tragedy to take a turn for the worse. It was learnt that he had advised his son not to go there anymore especially after two men had drowned two months ago while fishing there. Moreover, it’s rainy season now and strong current is expected. Sadly, the teen didn’t take his father’s advice seriously. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 3 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD Source: Facebook At the time of writing, the teen’s body has yet to be found. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family of the deceased and we salute the unsung heroes for their service and dedication. RIP. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 4 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD Six Rescue Divers In Malaysia Drown While Searching For Missing Teen https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/six-fire-and-rescue-dept-divers-in-malaysia-drown- during-search-10788490 04 Oct 2018 Source: Bernama/de/ad/na Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by a medical team on the six divers but failed. (Photo: Bernama) KUALA LUMPUR: Six fire and rescue department divers in Malaysia died during a rescue mission for a teen who is feared to have drowned after falling into a mining pond on Wednesday (Oct 3). The divers were caught in a strong "whirlpool" during the operation in Puchong, a town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, said Sepang district police chief Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Abdul Aziz Ali. He said it was drizzling when the divers went into the pond at 9.15pm to rescue the 17-year-old boy PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 5 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD The team had followed standard operating procedures in donning complete diving equipment and were tied to a single rope, said ACP Abdul Aziz. The divers were caught in a "whirlpool" during the operation, says the Sepang district police chief. "Suddenly a strong current occurred in the area, causing all victims to spin in the water while all their equipment came off," he said. The divers struggled in the water for about 30 minutes while other personnel tried to rescue them. However, all of them were unconscious when they were pulled out of the water. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department chief Azmi Osman said cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by a medical team on the victims but failed. “All six were pronounced dead,” he said. The divers have been identified as Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34; Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32; Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, and Yahya Ali, 24, from the Water Rescue Unit of the Port Klang Fire and Rescue station. The other two victims, identified as Adnan Othman, 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul The six divers were caught in a strong Malik Shaari, 25, were "whirlpool" during the operation. (Photo: members of the Water Rescue Bernama) Unit from the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue station. The teen has yet to be found. He was said to have been fishing by the banks of the pond with two friends when he slipped and fell into the pond. ACP Abdul Aziz said the search and rescue operation to locate the teenager will resume at 7.30am on Thursday. Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid told reporters that there have been few fatal incidents involving firefighters in Malaysia. "This is the first time (six personnel died). There was one previous case when we lost two members of the department,” he said. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 6 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD The bodies of the six divers arriving at Shah Alam Fire Station on Thursday morning. (Photo: Bernama) THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR US" "We carried out CPR but could not save them and this is a very sad day for us. One which involved so many of our employees.” Mohammad Hamdan said the department would look into the welfare of the divers’ families, including compensation and insurance. He said the hospital’s forensic department will carry out post-mortem examinations on the victims. The bodies will then be taken to the Shah Alam Fire and Rescue station for a funeral prayer session before being taken to their respective hometowns for burial. COMING TO TERMS WITH TRAGEDY Families of the deceased divers were still coming to terms with their loss, the Fire and Rescue Department said. The wife of one of the divers, Adnan Othman, said she received a call about his death at 11pm. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 7 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD “I was informed about what happened by his friend. I was at home then,” said Shamiza Salleh, 32. She then broke down and declined to say more. The wife of Izatul Akma said she was informed of her husband's death when the department's personnel visited her home at around midnight. "I thought my husband was involved in an accident, instead he had drowned. It seemed like I was in a dream. I saw him early yesterday morning before he left for work," said Rosmaria Abdul Ramli, 32. Officials drape flags on the coffins of the divers before the funeral prayer session. (Photo: Bernama) The mother of three added that her husband sent a message at 7pm to inform her about the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the widow of Mohammad Fattah said she dreamed of her husband's death just two weeks ago. "I told my husband about the dream but he just laughed it off. I never thought it would become a reality," said Nur Nadia Kamarudin, 29, mother of two. PSDiver Magazine www.PSDiver.com Page 8 10-03-2018 – Malaysia - 6 FIRE RESCUE DIVERS KILLED – FF PSD For Noratikah Shaari, 28, who is the sister of Muhammad Hifdzul, she said that her brother would normally give updates of any operation he would be a part of. However, he did not do so on the day of the incident.